Prince Sultan Cardiac Center in al-Qassim has witnessed a tremendous developmental leap since its inauguration in 2003 and until 2012. This leap reflected on all the annual statistical indicators, given that the center had performed about 2800 cardiac catheterization operations during the year (2012) after the number was 25 operations in the year of inauguration. Within the same vein, the center managed to performed 231 heart surgeries, compared to 30 surgeries during the inauguration year. Moreover, the patients' visits to the external clinics have increased from 4000 visits in 2003 to 30 thousand visits in 2012.
Prince Sultan Cardiac Center is considered the best all over al-Qassim region, in terms of the level of comprehensive services provided for children with heart failure. During the last ten years, the center witnessed a developmental leap in therapeutic services provided for patients with heart diseases through conducting a comprehensive survey for all hospitals located in al-Qassim region, and identifying their needs in the field of cardiology. In addition, the center began activating various joint cooperation programs for adults and children with several hospitals.
The center also holds a monthly meeting for all cardiologists from both the public and private sectors; in order to discuss the ways of developing the skills of cardiologists in the region, and to provide a number of training courses to improve the skills of staff of electrocardiography, ultrasound, and nursing.
Within the same period, the Ministry established a specialized department for medical education, training and research. The newly-established department has published more than five researches in highly-scientific areas, in addition to delivering several researches in several external and internal conferences. Moreover, the department managed to launch four training programs accredited by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. Such programs include the Saudi Cardiac Medicine Fellowship Certificate Program for the Elderly, which aims to graduate Saudis physicians holding the Saudi Fellowship Certificate in this specialty, in addition to two other diplomas in cardiovascular nursing, and a diploma in critical care nursing.
In the same context, the Health Education Department of Prince Sultan Cardiac Center launched various awareness campaigns till the year 2012 under the slogan: (Your Heart is Your Life…Keep Your Heart Healthy) to raise the level of health awareness among the community members towards the importance of prevention of the causes of the heart diseases and the risks resulting therefrom. Moreover, 10 educational workshops were launched to provide information on the examination of diabetes, pressure, and cholesterol. That is to be added to distributing awareness brochures to male and female adults working in government departments or in the large commercial complexes which witness a large turnout.
In addition, the center participated in many of the medical missions sent by the Ministry of Health to some neighboring countries. Also, the center had a role in performing 100 heart surgeries for the children of Yemen amid the Saudi medical mission which visited Yemen during the current year, along with other medical missions.
It should be noted that Prince Sultan Cardiac Center is considered one of the most important medical edifices all over the region; where the Department of Children's Cardiac Surgery and Catheterization serves as a reference for the regions of al-Qassim, and Hail, along with some provinces of Riyadh region near al-Qassim. The center was established at the expense of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, May Allah rest his soul in peace, to provide rehabilitative, preventive and curative care for adults and children suffering from heart diseases in al-Qassim region.